Step 6 – Keep Your Bike in Top Condition

All mechanical parts work better when properly maintained and cleaned so keeping your new investment (whether it is substantial or small) in top condition is advisable and important to the longevity of your bike and components.

There are a number moving parts on your bike so wear and tear will be a natural result of riding but a small amount of effort can go a long way, for instance a regular wash can be done easily at home. You won’t need any special soap or detergents, a normal dish washing detergent will be suitable.

A normal garden hose will work fine to wash your bike but you can also use a high pressure cleaner, however be careful to avoid getting close to any bearings with these as the force from the water can drive dirt and grime into the bearing casings.

Lubricating your chain regularly will increase the lifespan of your chain, your chain rings and cluster but be careful not to over lubricate your chain. Make sure to always take a cloth and wide any excess lube off the chain as soon as you are done lubricating. Applying too much lube will cause the chain to become sticky, this will then pick up dirt as you ride and form a highly corrosive paste which will eat away your drive train with every pedal stroke. Always use a non-solvent lubricant as this will not remove any of the lubricants that were applied to the smaller working parts during manufacturing.

Depending on the mileage that is done on the bike I would recommend a minor service once every four months with a major service once a year. Most bicycle retailers offer a short maintenance contract with new bikes when they are purchased and you can often upgrade these for a small fee, it is well worth the little extra as services can become costly.

When you do take your bike in for a service ask your mechanic to check the chain wear for you as replacing just your chain as it stretches could triple the life of your cluster and chain-rings which are substantially more expensive than the chain. If you feel the need to monitor this yourself then a $5 tool can be purchased from any bike shop and will give you an accurate read on your chain’s lifespan.

Wet weather can cause havoc with your drive train so if you are riding in the wet give your bike a quick rinse with clean water after your ride, this will remove any dirt and oil that gets picked up off the road. These corrosives will eventually get worked into the mechanical parts of the bike and are highly detrimental.

Only you know how your bike works and sounds, if something does not feel 100% correct then get it checked out rather than ignoring it. A bike that is not working optimally can be very frustrating to ride and might end up costing more if the problem is not attended to.

This small amount of maintenance can go a long way to keeping your bike working as it should, and the effort will be worth every dollar that you save.

I made the mistake of replacing my brake blocks incorrectly, make sure the side that slides into the holder goes against the wheel direction. My brake blocks popped out because I installed them the opposite way. Silly mistake.

Haha, just picturing the guy with the comment above with the brake blocks coming out, face must have been priceless. That said if you are losing braking power, check that your blocks haven’t hardened under heat. A rub on a coarse surface will get that hard layer off.